Chain link for insulators



Jan. 31, 3923,

M, F. H. GOUVERNEUR ET AL CHAIN LINK FOR INSULATORS Filed March 8, 1922 Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

. l,li57,924

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MENOR 1 1-1. GOUVERNE'UR AND LlklgDyLSSIG1IORS 'lQ LOOKE FAIRFAX H. GOUVEBNEUR, OF BALTIMORE, MARY- INSULATOR CORPORATION, OF BALTIMORE, MARY- LAND, A CORPUHATION- 6F IVIARYLAND.

CHAIN L INK FOR INSULATGIRS.

Application filed March 8, 1922. Serial No. 541,567.

The invention relates to insulators used in the transmission of electric power currents, and more pz trticularly to devices for mechanically connecting insulators of the socalled strain typo in series, or to the support or to the conductor.

The principal object of our invention is to simplify the form of connector now used for the purposes stated above by eliminating all extraneous parts and by making the connector simply to connect and disconnect without the use of tools, but rendering accidental disconnection of the parts of the connector impossible when the same is in use; To this end the principal feature of our invention, generally considered, is to provide a link comprising a pair oi counte part members, either member preferably being adapted to extend through a passage inthe insulator, each part of the connector having integral. members thereon'whereby the said pa 'ts may be interlockingly connectelil' to form a rigid link. I

Another feature of the invention is to provide a'link for use in connection with'insulators, the said link being composed of a pair of counterpart members of subsequent Udorm, each member being provided with a socket portion and a lug portion, the lug portions being adapted to enter and engage within the socket portions of the opposite member.

Still, another feature of our invrmtion is to provide a linkcomposed eta pair oi substantially U-shaped counterpart members, the n'ien'ibers each being furnished with a slotted socket portion the slots being so shaped as to permit of the parts being connected or disconnected only when the same are relieved of strain.

There are other features of the invention as will be apparent from the detailed description of the single embodiment of the device which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a transverse vertical sectional view through an insulator of the Hewlett type showing our improved form of connector in side elevation as associated with the said insulator.

Figure 2 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, showing the position of the connector parts in the act of assembly or disassembly, the insulator being illustrated by dot and dashlines.

Figure 3 is aview similar toFig. 1, showng the parts of the connector in interlocking engagement.

Figure at is a view in side elevation of the socket end of one of the connector members. Figure 5 is a sectional view taken in the line 55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows adjacent the ends t said section line.

Figure (i is a perspective view of the clip or locking mechanism which may be used to prevent the disassembly of the parts of the connector.

The numeral 1 designates an insulator of the strain'type conforming in'outline to the well known Hewlett form. These insulators are provided witn a plurality of interlinking passages 2 and 3 by which, through the medium of a connecting device, they are either suspended in series or to supports or connected to the conductor. Although we have'illustrated our connector as associated with the Hewlett type of insulator, it is to be understood that we do not limit our invention to this type, since it is obvious that it may be used with many of the varied forms of strain insulators now so commonly employed.

The connector or link at preferably comp'rises a pair of coimterpart members 5 each of which is substantially U-shaped in outline. The arm (3 of each member is enlarged or increased in diameter and. is provided with a hollow socket portion 7 terminated adjacent the end of each arm by an'umlercut or inclined shoulder 8. Each socket portion is piercedby'a slot 9 which may be provided with a T-head portion 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, the purpose of which will be pointed out-hereinafter. It will be observed that the head 10 of the slot 9 in each arm 6 is spaced from the shoulder 8 so to provide intermediate the head 10 and the shoulder 8 a semi-cylindrical surface with a restricted opening. Intermediate the shoulder 8 and the end of'the arm 6 there is provided a curved bearing 11, the object of which will also hereinafter be described. The socket portion 7 extends on opposite sides of the head 10 of. the slot 9 and communication is had between the portion intermediate the head 10 and the lower extremity of the socket ,7 by means of an opening 12. On the opposite end each member '5 is provided with a shank portion 13 terminating adjacent the end in a lug portion 14 the lug 14 overhanging the stem 13 through an arc of substantially 180 degrees. The shoulders 15 formed by the overhanging portion of the lug 14 are preferably inclined at an angle to the horizontal, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. i The intermediate portion of each member 5 between the lug 14 and the socket portion 6 .is preferably curved substantially in the arc of a circle and i's adapted to conform to the opening 2 or 3 within the insulator.

To connectthe parts of the link the lug portions 14 are brought opposite to and in line with the portions 10 of the slots 9. The parts are then moved transversely relatively to each other 'so-as to enter the lug portions 7 said opening.

14 within the socket port-ions 7, the slots 9 V permitting the stems 13 to enter the recesses or socket portions. The parts 5' are then moved in opposite directions so as to bring the shoulders .15 into engagement with the shoulders 8 and at the same time'the stems 13 into engagement with the portions 11 at the outer ends of the socket portions to form a bearing for the said stem, whereupon the parts will be interlockingly connected against further longitudinal movement and will be connected against lateral separation due to the face of the lug 14 engaging the inner face or walls 16 of the socket portion. If desired a U-shaped spring clip 17 may then be forced over the lower lip 18 at the bottom of the slot, the lower arms of the I springengaging within the recess 12, the

upper portion of the clip so restricting the opening 10 as to prevent any possibility of the adjacent lug 14 withdrawing from the It will be obvious that but a single clip is required since the parts of the link are rigid and it will therefore be impossible for the lug 14 and the member 5 upon which the clip is placed to w1thdraw from the slot 10 of its interconnected member until thelug 14 of the interconnected member is in turn withdrawn from the socket of the first named member. V The device as here shown and described is formed of but two parts and is substantially symmetrical in appearance wheninterlocked and provides curved or rounded surfaces on the exterior thereof towards the exteriorfaceof'the insulator. By this construction we avoid all corona points, since coronas will not formon curved or rounded surfaces.

By extending the recesses 7 below the lips 18 we render it impossible, or practically impossible, for the parts of the link to be accidentally disengagedin service even when the clip 17 is not employed, because if tive to each other until the lugs 14 of both 7 members are oaaosite the o enin 's 10 and" then move the members transversely in opposit-e directions. These movements, first in one direction and then at right angles to that direction, are obviously impossible when the parts are in service;

When used with the Hewlett type of insulator there is an additional safeguard against accidental disengagement inasmuch as the projecting lug or'boss on the outer faces of the Hewlett insulator renders it impossible to either connect or disconnect the parts until the same are inclined to the vertical axis of the insulator into substantially the position shown in Fig. 2. The intermediate portions of the connector conform in contour to the shape of the passage through the insulator, and the lug portions 14 are of such size as to permit the ready entryand withdrawal of the same to and from the insulator passage.

We claim:

1. A two-part link memberfor'insulator chains comprising a pair of counterpart members of substantially U-shap'e with one arm longer than the other, the shorter arm terminating in a head and the longer "arm having its end portion enlarged and formed with a recess and a slot in its inner side and end communicatingwith the recess, the end 7 of the slot most remote-from the end being laterally widenech'said slot and widened portion thereof being adapted to-allow said shorter arm and head of the other member to pass therethrough to seat said head within said recess. I V V 2. A two-part link member for insulator chains comprising a pair of counterpart members of substantially U-shape with one arm longer than the other, the shorter arm terminatmg in a head and the longer arm having its end portion enlarged and formed with a recess and a slot in its inner side and 7 end communicating with the recess, the end of the slot most remote from the end being chains comprising a pair of counterpart members of substantially U-shape with one arm longer than the other, the shorter arm terminating n a head and the longer arm pass therethrough to seat said head within having its end portion enlarged and termed with a recessand a slot in its inner side and end communicating with the recess, the end of the slot most remote from the end being laterally widened, said slot and widened portion thereof being adapted to allow sait shorter arm and head of the other member to pass therethrough to seat said head within said recess, said head defining a shoulder extending obliquely with respect to the axis of the insulator chain, and the wall of the recess engaged by said shoulder being cor respondingly oblique.

l. A two-part link member for insulator chains comprising a pair or" counterpart members of substantially U-shape with one arm longer than the other, the shorter arm terminating in a head and the longer arm having its end portion enlarged and formed with a recess and a slot in its inner side and end communicating with the recess, the end of the slot most remote from the end being laterally widened, said slotand widened portion thereof being adapted to allow said shorter arm and head ofthe other member to pass therethrough to seat said head within said recess, and a retaining member engageable with the inner wall of said enlarged portion at the edge of the widened portion of the slot therein for partially obstructing said widened portion.

5. A two-part link member for insulator chains comprising a pair of counterpart members of substantially U-shape with one arm longer than the other, the shorter arm terminating in a head and the longer arm having its end portion enlarged and formed with a recess and a slot in its inner side and end communicating with the recess the end of the slot most remote from the end being laterally widened, said slot and widened portion thereof being adapted to allow said shorter arm and head of the other member to pass therethrough to seat said head within said recess, the inner wall of the enlarged portion having an opening spaced from the widened end of the slot, and a spring clip engaged upon said wall with its ends accommodated within said openin the clip projecting into the widened portion of the slot to obstruct passage of the head therethrough subsequentto assembly.

6. A twopart link member for insulator chains comprising a pair of counterpart members of substantially U-shape, one arm of each terminating in a head and the other having its end portion enlarged and formed with a recess and avslot in its inner side and end communicating with the recess, the end of the slot most remote from the end being laterally widened and adapted to allow the first mentioned arm and head of the other member to pass therethrough to seat said head within said recess.

In testimony whereof we aiix our signatures.

MINOR F. H. GOUVERNEUR. FAIRFAX H. GOUVERNEUH. 

